EFFECT OF SILVER IN Y1BA2CU3O7-X SAMPLES

Abstract

Two techniques for preparing Y-Ba-Cu-O/Ag specimens are presented: (a) solid-state reaction, and (b) normal precursors dissolved in hot concentrated nitric acid and dried in air. The samples are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning Auger, X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and electrical resistivity measurements. In comparison with a normal 1-2-3 superconductor it was found that the normalized resistance [R(T)/R(280 K)] decreases for both preparation methods. The material retained a high initial temperature of superconductivity, T(c), for a maximum of 6% w/o Ag2O during solid-state reaction and 6.5% w/o Ag2O for samples dissolved in hot concentrated nitric acid and dried in air.